Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 6

Written Answers - Defence Forces Equipment.

Seán Haughey

Question:

147 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Defence if tenders were sought recently for the supply of armoured personnel carriers; if so, the number of tenders received; if a final decision was taken on which product to purchase before the completion of the tendering process; if a decision has now been made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23783/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

New equipment for the Defence Forces is acquired in accordance with national procedures relating to public procurement. Central to those procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders which are assessed on the basis of obtaining best value for money by the Department. These procedures are in place for the current programme to procure armoured personnel carriers, APCs.

A project team was established in 1997, comprising civilian and military personnel, and was tasked with identifying the most suitable type of APC for the Defence Forces, the numbers and variants required and the estimated costs involved. The procurement process is being undertaken in two stages by way of a tender competition which will be conducted in accordance with Government contracts procedures.

In stage one a general request for proposals, RFPs, based on a broad-parameter specification was issued to interested companies on 24 April 1998 with the aim of establishing product availability in the marketplace as well as an indication of the costs involved. Proposals were received from 12 companies on 27 May 1998 and are being evaluated at present.

In the second stage, which will commence shortly, a request for tenders, RFTs, based on a more precisely defined specification, will issue to a restricted list of companies — those successful in the first stage. The project team, already in place, will manage the procurement process through all stages to ensure that value for money is obtained for the expenditure involved. It is expected that a contract will be in place early in 1999.